Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Below are the plans currently accepted in 2018. There are some changes to the plans accepted beginning January 1, 2019. More information will become available on PlanForDuke.com.

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Below are the plans currently accepted in 2018. There are some changes to the plans accepted beginning January 1, 2019. More information will become available on PlanForDuke.com.

I treat spine and movement disorders. My favorite part of my job is seeing my patients benefit from procedures that improve their quality of life. I also enjoy the integration of research into clinical practice and learning how research can benefit future generations. I spent seven years at the University of Minnesota before coming to Duke. I’ve been at Duke now for more than 25 years. Duke offers a number of things from performing ordinary, common procedures very well to successfully taking on very complex procedures all in the same day. Outside of work, I enjoy cycling and traveling with my wife.

LANGUAGES I SPEAK

English

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME

Experience

Duke Spine Services

I am part of a team of spine orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons that offers a full spectrum of spine surgery options, including disc replacement to relieve pain and swelling, complex reconstructive surgeries for scoliosis, and procedures to remove spinal cancer lesions.

My surgical specialties

Major nerve surgery

Major nerve surgery decompresses, removes, grafts or cuts a nerve in the spine, arm or leg.

Laminectomy and laminotomy

Laminectomy and laminotomy, also known as spinal decompression surgery, is the total or partial removal of the lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

Anterior spinal fusion

Anterior spinal fusion surgery fuses together vertebrae in the neck or back from the front.

Note: All surgical experience data is from July 2014 through June 2017 and is calculated by individual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.

Surgeries Performed by the Spine Team

40,753

Surgeries Performed by the Spine Team

40,753

My surgical specialties

Major nerve surgery

Major nerve surgery decompresses, removes, grafts or cuts a nerve in the spine, arm or leg.

Laminectomy and laminotomy

Laminectomy and laminotomy, also known as spinal decompression surgery, is the total or partial removal of the lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

Anterior spinal fusion

Anterior spinal fusion surgery fuses together vertebrae in the neck or back from the front.

Procedures I Perform the Most

Note: All surgical experience data is from July 2014 through June 2017 and is calculated by individual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.

Training

EDUCATION

MD, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1975

RESIDENCY

Neurosurgery, University of Washington Medical Center, 1976-1981

FELLOWSHIP

Neurophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology and University Hospital, University of Oslo (Norway), 1981-1982

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Overall provider rating

4.9 out of 5 (93 ratings, 26 reviews)

PATIENT REVIEWS

Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Survey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.